Photos 1 and 2 are real photo postcards of two different people, but the same motorcycle, same background, with kickstand obviously down and wheel up. I imagine one took a photo of the other then switched places. Anyone know what type of bike it is? The fellow in photo 1 looks as though he’s wearing fisherman’s rubber waders! They extend to mid-thigh, and frankly, if he was cycling all over WWI France, the idea isn’t quite as crazy as it appears. I don’t know of any other footwear it might be. I can’t figure out what’s wrapped around the nearest handle bar. The other handle bar seems to have some sort of horn.

Photo 3 - The cyclist here is the same fellow as in photo 2. He wears an issue winter cap, and although he had gaiters in the second photo, here he has wrap around leggings, and has now acquired an overseas stripe. His sidecar reads “MEDICAL DEPARTMENT” and “US ARMY.”

Photo 4 of the three soldiers, the one on the left appears to have pulled his shirt collar up over his stand up jacket collar. He and the one in the middle seemed to have gained some weight since the uniforms were issued! The one on the right may have crossed rifles (infantry) crossed swords (cavalry) or crossed cannon (artillery) on his collar disk. All of these RPCs are marked “CARTE POSTALE” on back.

RonM, 3 years agoThe leggings protected your shins from rocks and stuff flying up from the road. The bike is an Indian.22,000 of them were built.In 1916 the Power plus engine got 16 HP out of 1000ccs.These machines did 60 mph and weighed 400 lbs. The bike has leaf springs front and back.The head light in picture three is an acetylene lamp.